Joseph L. Votel

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Joseph Votel (2016)

Joseph Leonard Votel III. (* 14. February 1958 in Saint Paul , Minnesota ) is a General of the United States Army (USA) and was until March 28, 2019 Commander of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a part contending powerful cross-regional command of the United States Armed Forces .

Previously, on August 28, 2014, Votel commanded the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), a cross-armed forces functional command headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base , Florida . Votel was the tenth officer in this post since the establishment of the USSOCOM in 1987.

From July 2010 he was first chief of staff of USSOCOM and from June 2011 commanded the US Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), which is subordinate to USSOCOM .

Career

From left: US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter , Votel and Lloyd Austin during the handover at USCENTCOM on March 30, 2016

After completing his studies at the United States Military Academy in West Point , Votel began his service in the USAR in 1980 as a platoon leader in the 3rd US Infantry Division, which was then still stationed in Germany .

Promoted to Brigadier General in 2003 , Votel served in various functions, including Deputy Director, Information Operations / Director, Army Improvised Explosive Device Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff in Washington, DC , and Assistant Division Commander, 82d Airborne Division in Fort Bragg , North Carolina . In 2008 he was promoted to major general while serving as Deputy commanding general, Operations, Joint Special Operations Command, US Special Operations Command . Starting in 2010, he served one year as Chief of Staff, US Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base , Florida , but was returned as Commander, Joint Special Operations Command / Commander, Joint Special Operations Command Forward, US Special Operations Command in 2011 transferred to Fort Bragg, where he served in the rank of lieutenant general .

On July 24, 2014, US President Barack Obama nominated Votel to succeed Admiral William McRaven , who in turn was retiring , as Commander-in-Chief of USSOCOM. After confirmation by the Senate , Votel finally took up the post on August 28, his promotion to general took place as part of the transfer of command.

On March 30, 2016, Votel took command of USCENTCOM from General Lloyd Austin . During this time, the fight against the terrorist group Islamic State took place . Votel retired on March 28, 2019, handing over the reins to Kenneth F. McKenzie .

Joseph Votel is married to Michel Votel, née Belair, and they have two sons together.

Awards

Selection of decorations, sorted based on the Order of Precedence of Military Awards :

See also

Web links

Commons : Joseph L. Votel  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Biography of Votels at the US Department of Defense (English; PDF, 38 kB; last accessed on October 12, 2014).
  2. ↑ Press release of the Senate of July 24, 2014 (English; last accessed on August 26, 2014).
  3. ↑ Commented photo gallery on the handover of command on the website of the US Department of Defense. Archived from the original on December 22, 2014 ; Retrieved February 19, 2016 .
  4. ↑ Votel takes command at CENTCOM - short report USCENTCOM of March 30, 2016 (English; last accessed in 2018).
  5. ↑ US Marine Corps General McKenzie replaces retiring Votel as CENTCOM Commander. March 29, 2019, accessed May 4, 2019 .
personal data
SURNAME Votel, Joseph L.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Votel, Joseph Leonard III. (Full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American General (US Army)
DATE OF BIRTH February 14, 1958
PLACE OF BIRTH Saint Paul , Minnesota